Short-term beetroot juice supplementation improves muscle speed and power but does not reduce blood pressure or oxidative stress in 65–79 y old men and women

Abstract

We have previously demonstrated that acute ingestion of inorganic nitrate (NO₃⁻)-rich beetroot juice (BRJ), a source of nitric oxide (NO) via the NO₃⁻ → nitrite (NO₂⁻) → NO pathway, can improve muscle speed and power in older individuals. It is not known, however, whether this effect is maintained or perhaps even enhanced with repeated ingestion, or if tolerance develops as with organic nitrates, e.g., nitroglycerin. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, we therefore studied 16 community-dwelling older (age 71 ± 5 y) individuals after both acute and short-term (i.e., daily for 2 wk) BRJ supplementation. Blood samples were drawn and blood pressure was measured periodically during each ∼3 h experiment, with muscle function determined using isokinetic dynamometry. Acute ingestion of BRJ containing 18.2 ± 6.2 mmol of NO₃⁻ increased plasma NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ concentrations 23 ± 11 and 2.7 ± 2.1-fold over placebo, respectively. This was accompanied by 5 ± 11% and 7 ± 13% increases in maximal knee extensor speed (Vmax) and power (Pmax), respectively. After daily supplementation for 2 wk, BRJ ingestion elevated NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ levels 24 ± 12 and 3.3 ± 4.0-fold, respectively, whereas Vmax and Pmax were 7 ± 9% and 9 ± 11% higher than baseline. No changes were observed in blood pressure or in plasma markers of oxidative stress with either acute or short-term NO₃⁻ supplementation. We conclude that both acute and short-term dietary NO₃⁻ supplementation result in similar improvements in muscle function in older individuals. The magnitudes of these improvements are sufficient to offset the decline resulting from a decade or more of aging and are therefore likely to be clinically significant.